Pole base



W. R. RUTHERFORD POLE BASE Filed Oct. l2, 1927 Mm/f/ Wil/iam l?. Ru herford Aliorney Patented ug. 6, 1929.

WILLIAM R. RUTHERFORD, OF SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

Porn Basri. n

Applcation'led October 12, y19527. Serial No. 225,672.

-My present invention relatesA to an iniproved pole base which is designed for the purpose of supporting telegraph poles, light poles, and poles for supporting power lines, as well as for other purposes. The device is designed to elevate the base or butt end of the pole and support it above the ground line in order that deterioration of the pole may be eliminated, and of course the durability of the pole is increased. As is well known, the wooden poles decay from dry rot or from other causes and require replacing at frequent intervals. The device of my invention is designed to eliminate the frequent replacement of the poles, and the base of my invention may be employed in connection with poles that have previously been in use, by sawing olf the butt end of the pole that may have been ruined.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter be more fully disclosed and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention wherein the parts are Combined and arranged according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure l illustrates a telephone or telegraph pole supported by one of the bases of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional detail view at line 2-2 of Fig. l; f

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view as at line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4r is a detail view of the hinged supporting bar or upright of the base;

Fig. 5 is a plan view ofone of the retaining rings; and

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view showing the manner of wedging the rings to the upright bars.

In order that the general arrangen'ient and relation of parts may readily be understood I have shown in Fig. 1 a pole P having the usual cross arms C and the base B supports the butt end or lower end of the pole above the ground line G.

The base is preferably made up of cement concrete and is fashioned with a central opening H to economize in the use of material.. The base may be of any approved shape in horizontal cross section, and it is preferably fashioned with a circular seat l in the top in which the butt end ofthe pole is seated and then tar or other water proofing material is poured into this seat around the bottom of the pole to make a close joint and prevent moisture from having access to the bottom of the pole.

The base B is fashioned with a suitable number of rigid uprights or retaining bars 2. Three of these bars shown in the drawing, and a. fourth bar as 4l is also used. These four bars are arranged at diametrically op-y posite points and each bar is fashioned from channel irons with flanges 3. The bars are arranged to enclose the butt end of the pole with the free edges of the flanges pointing outwardly, or radiating from the center of the pole. The channel bar 4L is hinged to a base section 5 at 6, and the base section 5 is embedded in the concrete base B. It will be understood of course that the lower ends of the bars 3 are also embedded in the concrete base B and they are rigidly held in this 1nanner. In order to reinforce this structure, I

may employ a number of horizontally disposed reinforcing rings 7 in the base that encircle the four uprights, and in addition to holding the uprights in position these reinforcing rings strengthen the concrete base.

The hinged bar t is turned down to dotted line position in Fig. 3 when the pole is to be erected, and the butt end of the pole is slipped into its seat between the three rigid bars or uprights 2, then the pole is turned to upright position, and the hinged bar 4 is turned to upright position. The bars are adjusted in approximate position to frictionally engage the exterior surface of the butt end of the pole, but means are provided for making a positive engagement of these upright bars with the pole as follows. e

Before the pole is erected, a number of rings as 8 (here shown as 3) are slipped over fthepole from either end, and these metal rings are provided with flanges as 9. Each ring, at diametrically opposite points, is provided with a pair of spaced slots l0 which extend a sufhcient distance in the ring 8 to form tongues 1l. These slots and tongues conform to the shape of the channel bars 2 and l and it will be apparent that the tongues are designed to slide down in the channels of the bars, while the slots accommodate the flanges 3 of the bars. The retaining rings 8 are forced down by repeated blows from a suitable tool or machine, and the tongues l1 assume the position illustrated in Fig. 6 and perform the function of Wedges for the purpose of forcing the upright arins into contact with the exterior surface of the butt end or base of' the pole. Should the pole have an irregular surface, the irregularity may be compensated for by using a shini or cutting off any protuberances on the exterior surface of the pole.

in Fig. 8, the upright bars are indicated as 12 and they are offset from their lower ends 13, which lower ends are embedded in the base B. in soine instances, the uprights niay be fashioned in this nianner when it is desired to increase the size of the socket of the base to receive a large pole, Without necessarily increasing the diameter of the base B.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claini as neu7 and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is-

1. The combination with a base, of a series of fixed channel iron bars, a hinged channel iron bar, a retaining` ring adapted to'encircle said bars, said ring having slots to accommodate the channel irons, and tongues to perforni the functions of Wedges for the purpose described.

2. rhe combination with a base, of a series of fixed upright bars having outwardly projecting pairs of spaced flanges, and one of said bars having a hinge oint, of a continuous retaining nieniber surrounding said upright bars, and tongues on said retaining ineniber frictionally engaging said bars between said pairs of anges.

In testimony whereof` I affix my signature.

VILLIAM R. RUTHERFORD. 

